What is PayPal and how does it work?

Earlier this year PayPal celebrated its 10th year in the mobile payments business. It's been around longer as an online financial service, but its mobile talents have come on leaps and bounds in the last decade.

Some people think paying for things by phone is a new thing, considering Apple Pay, Android Pay and Samsung Pay are only now established, but PayPal has offered those kinds of services for years. And through its Android and iOS apps, consumers have been purchasing items worry free using mobile devices even before they became the smartphones we know and love today.

That's why we thought it's about time we had a look at what mobile services PayPal offers to give you an indication of what you can do with the PayPal apps and features should you choose to sign up for an account.

What is PayPal?

PayPal is an online financial service that allows you to pay for items using a secure internet account. You simply add your bank account, credit card or debit card details and whenever you pay using PayPal, you can can choose which of your cards or accounts it pays with. You can also set one to be the default payment method and that will be used unless you choose otherwise.

You can pay for items from a vast number of online and high street stores, including restaurants, petrol stations and market traders.

In addition to paying for items using PayPal, you can also receive money through the service. Any money received sits in your PayPal account and can be used when paying for something, with the balance topped up by your assigned cards or bank account.

Alternatively, you can transfer the money to one of your assigned bank accounts or cards.

There can be fee applied when you receive money to your PayPal account. For example, if you sell an item on eBay. However, the vast majority of uses are completely free to you on a personal basis. It is free to transfer money to friends or family through PayPal accounts, as long as there is no currency conversion required.

What is PayPal Credit?

This year PayPal also started its own credit service, where you can pay for items using PayPal but pay from them later. It's a lot like a credit card although you don't require an actual card. It currently charges a (variable) purchase interest rate of 17.9 per cent per annum but as an incentive, you get 0 per cent interest on purchases of over £150 for four months. So if you pay it back within that time, it won't cost you more than the original purchase price.

Some stores offer special deals when paying for products using PayPal Credit, with reduced interest rates depending on the retailer.

Why use PayPal?

While there are plenty of online payment systems these days, and several manufacturer or network digital wallets, PayPal offers a few additional benefits that others might not.

To begin with, its age means it is well established and widely accepted. You will find a "pay by PayPal" option on thousands of websites that do not offer the same for Apple Pay or other digital financial services.

Its buyer protection safeguards will also ensure you get a refund if an item you buy online doesn't arrive or doesn't match a sellers' description. This is especially useful when purchasing items on eBay, where you do not usually have shop guarantees.

Those selling items on a personal or business level and are paid through PayPal are also protected. For example, if you can provide proof that you sent an item by post yet the buyer claims not to have received it, you get to keep the full payment.

Another reason to use PayPal is that it offers an additional layer of security to payments. As you do not have to enter your card details or CCV number each time you purchase something, just your PayPal log in and password or mobile number and PIN, the online store does not have your details in its database.

In some occasions you can also use OneTouch payments, where PayPal keeps you logged in if you activate the service and you do not have to enter your details each time you purchase something, no matter which store. That's because it is specific to a device and browser. For example, if you enable OneTouch on your PC, it will only work when you use that specific computer and the same browser.

Does PayPal cost me anything?

As we've said above, it is mostly free to use PayPal. It is certainly free to sign up for an account, even if you do not use it often. You are never charged for a purchase in the same currency - only occasionally when there is an exchange rate to be considered. This is essentially the same as with your bank.

You will occasionally incur fees if you sell items and receive payment through PayPal. And business accounts can have different fees levied depending on the circumstances - such as accepting credit card payments through a PayPal Here Chip and PIN/contactless payment reader.

How do I get a PayPal account?

It's easy to sign up for a PayPal account. You head to PayPal.co.uk and click the "Sign Up" button. It'll ask if you want to sign up for a personal or business account and away you go. Don't forget to have your bank, credit or debit card details to hand though.

PayPal

How to pay with PayPal?

PayPal works online and in stores through a browser or mobile application. There are dedicated apps for Android and iOS.

When paying online, you just need to look for the PayPal symbol and check out by following the simple instructions on screen. The apps do more though.

Thanks to many partnerships with stores and restaurants in your area, you get different options of how to pay for products, food or petrol, even order ahead to beat the queues in some food establishments and coffee shops. The app shows you a list of all the vendors nearby that accept each of the different PayPal options.

You can also add loyalty cards to your PayPal account, in order to gain loyalty points whenever you pay for something using the app.

Where can I use PayPal?

As there are thousands of PayPal-enabled vendors, here are just some of the places it is accepted in the UK, both online or in store:

Argos

Asos

Barbour

Ben Sherman

Boots

British Airways

Disney Store

Domino's

eBay

ebuyer.com

Gourmet Burger Kitchen

Groupon

Halfords

HungryHouse

John Lewis

Maplin

New Look

Nike

Oasis

Pizza Express

Pizza Hut

PlayStation Store

Poundland

Royal Mail

Samsung eStore

Shell

Sports Direct

Spotify

Steam

Superdrug

TopShop

Toys R' Us

Wagamama

Xbox

Zara

Is PayPal available for my phone?

As we explained above, there are dedicated PayPal apps for iPhone and Android devices.

The iPhone app requires iOS 8.1 or greater. It will also work with iPod touch and iPad devices.

The Android app varies by device, so it is best to download and try to install it before you sign up for an account to ensure it works with your phone.